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Ian Evatt believes the new structure around him at Bolton gives the club a greater chance of success on the pitch.
The Wanderers boss says his job has been made easier by the recent reshuffle, which started with the departure of Tobias Phoenix as head of football operations and continued with the recent appointment of Chris Markham as technical performance director.
Recruitment in January proved a success, with the likes of Kieran Lee and MJ Williams signed on permanent deals and Declan John, Dapo Afolayan, Zack Elbouzedi, Marcus Maddison, Lukas Jensen and Ben Jackson brought in on loan.
Wanderers have bounced from 19th in the table at the turn of February to sixth in mid-March, with a chance to move to within a point of the automatic promotion places if they beat Walsall and results elsewhere prove favourable today.
Evatt reckons part of that success has been down to a more straightforward relationship at the top end of the club - which has not always been the case.
“It’s great – the communication has been completely simplified,” he said. “I report straight to Sharon and there’s nobody in between who can complicate things. It is a clear line; we know exactly what we are doing.
“Chris has come in and is helping me and the board. The structure really gives us that chance to move forward positively, get that sustainability we have been looking for.
“There are loads of things happening recruitment-wise, general structures, and people will learn more about those as we go along.
“Right at the moment, though, it’s the short-term aim and that’s Walsall and three points on Saturday.”
January was a turning point in Wanderers’ season as the club’s recruitment fell under Evatt’s exclusive remit for the first time.
“We have got the right people in the right roles,” he said of the changes. “We added extra quality all over the pitch and more experience, a better pedigree of player as well.
“They hit the ground running and it’s all credit to them because they are learning on the job, learning about the system, about me, and there’s loads of room for improvement as well, which is great.”
Evatt also feels the signing Lee and Williams on 18-month deals was a statement of intent for Wanderers and the direction they wish to travel in the future.
“We don’t want to be a club that lives window to window,” he said. “We can’t be that.
“We want to build a team for the future, to be more sustainable and be able to progress through the levels.
“The signings we made in January and especially the ones like Kieran and MJ are lads who have comfortably played at a higher level and who can progress on the journey with us.
“We speak about the journey for Bolton and the end goal. Players like Rico, who signed the contract extension, MJ and Kieran are capable of going all the way with us.”
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The Wanderers boss says his job has been made easier by the recent reshuffle, which started with the departure of Tobias Phoenix as head of football operations and continued with the recent appointment of Chris Markham as technical performance director.
Recruitment in January proved a success, with the likes of Kieran Lee and MJ Williams signed on permanent deals and Declan John, Dapo Afolayan, Zack Elbouzedi, Marcus Maddison, Lukas Jensen and Ben Jackson brought in on loan.
Wanderers have bounced from 19th in the table at the turn of February to sixth in mid-March, with a chance to move to within a point of the automatic promotion places if they beat Walsall and results elsewhere prove favourable today.
Evatt reckons part of that success has been down to a more straightforward relationship at the top end of the club - which has not always been the case.
“It’s great – the communication has been completely simplified,” he said. “I report straight to Sharon and there’s nobody in between who can complicate things. It is a clear line; we know exactly what we are doing.
“Chris has come in and is helping me and the board. The structure really gives us that chance to move forward positively, get that sustainability we have been looking for.
“There are loads of things happening recruitment-wise, general structures, and people will learn more about those as we go along.
“Right at the moment, though, it’s the short-term aim and that’s Walsall and three points on Saturday.”
January was a turning point in Wanderers’ season as the club’s recruitment fell under Evatt’s exclusive remit for the first time.
“We have got the right people in the right roles,” he said of the changes. “We added extra quality all over the pitch and more experience, a better pedigree of player as well.
“They hit the ground running and it’s all credit to them because they are learning on the job, learning about the system, about me, and there’s loads of room for improvement as well, which is great.”
Evatt also feels the signing Lee and Williams on 18-month deals was a statement of intent for Wanderers and the direction they wish to travel in the future.
“We don’t want to be a club that lives window to window,” he said. “We can’t be that.
“We want to build a team for the future, to be more sustainable and be able to progress through the levels.
“The signings we made in January and especially the ones like Kieran and MJ are lads who have comfortably played at a higher level and who can progress on the journey with us.
“We speak about the journey for Bolton and the end goal. Players like Rico, who signed the contract extension, MJ and Kieran are capable of going all the way with us.”
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